Mindfulness

A poem by Mary Oliver...
Mindful

Everyday
I see or hear
something
that more or less

kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle

in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for —
to look, to listen,

to lose myself
inside this soft world —
to instruct myself
over and over

in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant —
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise
with such teachings
as these —
the untrimmable light

of the world,
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

"Mindful" by Mary Oliver from Why I Wake Early. © Beacon Press, 2005. Reprinted with permission. 

You will note that I have a quote from Mary up under the title of my blog...it's been there since the first day I put my blog up...I truly believe that life is pretty much about "paying attention".  Or, as in this case, being "mindful".  Or "prayers made out of grass"? As she says "it is what we were born for".  

Artist friend, Durinda, and I have been talking about our "word" for the new year.  I picked "attention".  Not because it was a new word for me...but a reminder.  It's so easy to get off track and forget and start taking things for granted and then missing it all.